CHAPTER 6
The rest of the week passed by uneventfully, which happens to be a rarity in our house.
I was on my best behavior, managing to stay outta trouble...both at school and at home. Another rarity since Johnny and Dally died.
Neither Two-Bit nor Steve questioned me about what they learned at dinner. I was glad for that. I'm sure Darry musta warned them both not to bring it up. Honestly, I wanted to forget the whole thing ever happened.
Come Friday night I was about to go outta my mind from boredom. Darry still wouldn't let me watch tv, Soda was out with Steve, Two-Bit was off, probably gettin' drunk somewhere, I'd already done all my homework and I'd read every book in the house at least twice.
Out of desperation, I made my way to the living room, flopped down on the couch, sighing loudly, and turned to watch Darry write out some bills.
"Everything ok, little man?" Darry questioned without looking up from his work.
"Yeah." I sulked. "Just bored." I tried to look as miserable as possible, hoping he would take pity and let me watch some tv.
"Well", Darry started, putting his pen down and turning to look at me, "you can always wash the dishes...the bathroom needs cleaning too."
"What?! No!" I jumped up. "Tonight's Soda's night to do the dishes! It ain't my fault you let him leave with Steve before he did 'em! Maybe you should ground him." I added under my breath.
"Ah...so that's what this is all about..." he got up and walked over to me, pulling me down onto the couch to sit next to him.
I winced. My backside still hurt some.
Darry grinned, seeing my reaction, and toussled my hair.
"Quit it." I complained as I brushed his hand away.
"Ponyboy...", he bagan, "you're old enough...and smart enough...to know you're grounded with good reason."
I didn't say anything, so Darry continued.
"I don't like grounding you, Pone...in fact, I don't like punishing you at all...", he put his head down and I knew he was thinkin' about the whippin' he'd given me the other night. I put my head down too, suddenly feeling ashamed. He tilted my head back up to look me in the eyes as he went on, "but, Pony, I don't have the option of not punishing you when you need to be punished. I don't have the option of just bein' your 'big brother' like I was be...before Mom and Dad died." He paused briefly. "You know, as well as I do, that I had to pick up where they left off...and if that means punishing you, kiddo, then that's what I gotta do. Understand, Pony"
"Sure." I answered, putting my head down again. "But, Mom and Dad never grounded me...and they sure never punished me in any other way." I challenged.
"Pone...you were 13 when we lost them. Still a baby. You weren't gettin' into any trouble back then. And, me and Soda, well, we were both grounded our fair share...as well as punished in other ways..."
My head snapped up at this. "They spanked you?!" I was stunned!
"No...not Mom...but Dad did. He spanked me and Soda both. Took that belt to the two of us on more than one occassion..." He stopped and looked at me a moment, then smiled...I was starin' at him with my eyes wide - I couldn't believe our Dad had used that same belt on my brothers.
"But," he continued, getting serious again:only when we really deserved a whippin'...which is why I let you feel it the other night. Pony, if Daddy had been here, he woulda done the exact same thing."
I put my head down, feeling ashamed again. "I 'spose."
"Besides..." Darry started, "I'm thinkin' about lettin' you head on over to the game with Soda tomorrow night...but only if you get all your chores done and you two are back after the game ends. You've had a pretty good week, kiddo...and i'm real proud of you. I think you've been punished enough."
I jumped up and hugged him, "Thanks, Dar!"
"Sure, little man. Now go on and get to bed...it's gettin late."
"K." And I turned and ran into my room.
So...I thought, as I was curled up in my bed...I managed to get myself outta the house...now all I hafta do is lose Soda at the game and I'll be gettin' some action before Curly.
I couldn't wait for tomorrow night!
CHAPTER 7 WILL BE POSTED AS SOON AS I GET AT LEAST 5 REVIEWS FOR THIS CHAPTER. I AM SO NOT NICE...